Arm rest and inside door handle assembly



Aug. 29, 1967 RTS H ET AL 3,338,621

ARM REST AND INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed June 28, 1965 INVENTORS Zomas 567;)?

United States Patent Ofiice 3,338,621 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 Delaware Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,227 8 Claims. (Cl. 29663) This invention relates to door assemblies for motor vehicles. More particularly, it relates to an improved arm rest and inside door handle assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arm rest and inside door handle assembly having supenor safety, comfort, convenience, and appearance characteristics.

A more specific object is to provide such an assembly which is extremely resistant to accidental unlatching movement of the door handle.

Another object is to provide such an assembly which presents no sharp or protruding edges to cause injury to an occupant.

Another object is to provide an arm rest and door handle assembly allowing convenient and comfortable access to the door handle while yet retaining the aforementioned safeguard against accidental unlatching and the aforementioned safeguard against occupant injury.

Yet another object is to provide an arm rest and door handle assembly which presents a clean, uncluttered, and aesthetically pleasing appearance.

According to the invention, the inside door handle is mounted on the inside of the door at generally the same level as the support surface provided by the arm rest and the handle is pivoted about a generally vertical axis so that a lateral movement of the handle toward the occupant is required to open the door.

This arrangement substantially precludes accidental movement of the handle to its door unlatching position in response to inadvertent or accidental rearward movement of the hand of the occupant and yet retains the comfort and convenience features inherent in a combined arm rest and door handle assembly.

According to a further feature of the invention, the door handle is disposed immediately forwardly of the forward edge of the support surface provided by the arm rest so as to be conveniently accessible to the hand of an occupant with the forearm of the latter supported on and lying along the arm rest.

According to another feature of the invention, the door handle occupies a sheltered position immediately forwardly of the arm rest and Within the envelope formed by the inside surface of the door and an imaginary forward extension of the longitudinal surfaces of the arm rest. In this sheltered position forwardly of the arm rest, the door handle is not readily snagged, is extremely resistant to accidental release, and will not likely be struck by occupants in the event of a collision.

According to yet another feature of the invention, the door handle comprises a plate like member which, in latched position, lies along and generally flush with the inside surface of the door.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of a motor vehicle embodying an arm rest and door handle assembly according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, partially exploded perspective view showing details of the construction and assembly of the door handle mechanism as Well as details of the relationship of the door handle mechanism to the arm rest structure; and

FIGURE 3 is a front end view of the arm rest and door handle assembly.

The motor vehicle of FIGURE 1 includes a fixed body portion 10, a seat 12 supported on fixed body portion 10, and a door 14 mounted on the fixed body portion 10. Door 14 is swingable in known manner about a vertical hinge axis provided by a hinge assembly 16 between an open position allowing access to seat 12 and the illustrated closed position in which it is immediately adjacent seat 12. Door 14 is releasably secured in its closed position by coacting latch means 18, 20 on the door and on the pillar portion 10a of fixed body portion 10.

An arm rest and door handle assembly according to the invention is shown on the inside of door 14.

The assembly, broadly considered, includes an arm rest structure 22 and a door handle mechanism 24.

Arm rest structure 22 includes a base member 26 and a cushion member 28.

Reference is now made particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3. Base member 26 includes a raised central portion 29 and a flange portion 30 extending peripherally around raised central portion 29. Central portion 29 is of generally U cross section and includes a top wall 32, a bottom wall 34 and a side wall 36. Side wall 36 terminates at 38 and top and bottom walls 32, 34 slope downwardly from terminal edge 38 to form triangular side Wall portions 32a, 34a, blending into flange portion 30 at a location thereby slightly forward of a terminal edge 40. Terminal edge 40, terminal edge 38 and wall portions 32a, 34a thus define therebetween a generally rectangular opening 42.

Cushion member 28 is positioned against side wall 36 re'arwardly of terminal edge 38. The cushion is secured to side wall 36 by screws 44 passing angularly upwardly through cylindrical holes 46 in cushion member 28, through holes 48 in prongs 50 struck from a metal strip 52 embedded in cushion member 28, and through holes 54 in V shaped recesses 56 formed in side wall 36. Screws 44 thereafter engage the inner metal skin of door 14, whereby the same screws serve to secure cushion member 28 to base member 26 and base member 26 to door 14.

As seen in FIGURE 1, the arm rest structure 22 is positioned on door 14 at a level such that the horizontal support surface provided by the top surface 58 of cushion member 28 may comfortably accommodate, and provide support for, the forearm of an occupant of seat 12.

With particular reference again to FIGURES 2 and 3, door handle mechanism 24, broadly considered, includes a pivot bracket 60, a lever 62, and a handle 64.

Pivot bracket 60 is of U form and includes upper and lower horizontal arm portions 66, 68 and a vertical bridge portion 70 connecting arm portions 66, 68. Bracket 60 is fixed to the inner skin of door 14 by screws 72 passing through bridge portion 70. A pivot pin 74 is journaled in upper and lower arm portions 66, 68 for rotation about a vertical axis.

Lever 62 includes a lower horizontal arm 76 journaled on pin 74 adjacent lower bracket arm portion 68, an upper horizontal arm 78 journaled on pin 74 adjacent upper bracket arm portion 66, and a vertical bridge 80 connecting arms 76, 78. Upper arm 78 also includes a crank portion 82 passing through a slot 84 in bridge portion 70 of bracket 60. A spring 86 is coiled around pivot pin 74. One end of spring 86 is fixed to bracket 60 and the other end is fixed to lever 62 so that pivotal movement of lever 62 about the axis of pin 74 winds and unwinds spring 86.

Handle 64 is generally in the form of a rectangular plate. It includes a main body or plate portion 87, an upper flange portion 88, and a transverse web portion 89 3 having a central hole 90. Handle 64 is rigidly secured to lever 62 by a bolt 92 passing through hole 90 for engagement with a threaded bore 94 in bridge 80 of lever 62. Bridge 80 seats between vertically spaced ribs 96, 98 integral with web portion 89.

When handle 64 is grasped and pulled laterally inwardly toward the occupant, lever 62 is pivoted about the axis of pin 74 to reciprocate a latch operating rod 100 pivotally connected to the free end of crank portion 82. Rod 100 coacts in known manner with latch means 18, 20 to release the latch in response to movement of the rod in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 1.

With door 14 in its closed position and the forearm of an occupant of seat 12 supported comfortably on cushion member 28, the occupant may readily unlatch door 14 for movement to its open position by passing his fingers over the front edge of handle 64, as shown in FIG- URE 1, and pulling inwardly on the handle against the resistance of spring 86 to pivot the handle assembly about the vertical axis of pivot pin 74 and pull rod 100 in unlatching direction. When the handle is released, it is returned to its latched or rest position by spring 86.

Handle 64, in its rest or door latched position, extends forwardly along the inner or inside surface of the door and is generally flush with that surface with main body or plate portion 87 lying in a vertical plane parallel to the inner surface of the door and spaced from that surface by an amount sufiicient to allow an occupants fingers to be curled over the forward edge of the plate to engage the under or back surface of the plate.

A notch 89a in web 89 allows that web to clear triangular portion 32a with handle 64 in its latched position. In this position, the door handle is effectively sheltered by cushion 28. Specifically, and as best seen in FIGURE 3, the topmost edge of handle 64 is well below cushion top surface 58 and the inboardmost edge of the handle is well Within the longitudinal side surface 102 of the cushion. Handle 64 is thus nestled within the envelope formed by the inner surface of the door and an imaginary forward extension of cushion surfaces 58 and 102. In this sheltered position within the imaginary projection of the arm rest, the handle will not readily snag clothing or other articles. It will also not likely be accidentaly grasped, since a deliberate, conscious movement of the hand into the aforedescribed protective envelope is required to gain access to the handle. It will also not likely injure occupants thrown about the interior of the vehicle, as for example in the event of a collision, since the arm rest cushion will tend to fend off occupants striking the vicinity of the arm rest and door handle assembly and prevent contact of the occupant with the door handle; and even if the handle is contacted by an occupant, injury will not likely result due to the broad flat surface presented by the plate-like door handle and due to the generally flush mounting of the handle against the inner door surface.

Further, inadvertent rearward movement of the occupants hand, even with the hand resting directly on the door handle, will not normally produce unlatching movement of the handle since the force applied to the door handle will be substantially along a line passing directly through the pivot axis of the handle. Similarly, if the handle is accidentally snagged by clothing or other objects, it will not likely be moved in an unlatching direction. The arm rest and door handle assembly of the invention will thus be seen to provide a unit that is aesthetically pleasing, extremely resistant to accidental unlatching, and relatively free of sharp or protruding edges.

While a preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a motor vehicle of the type including a fixed body portion,

a seat supported on said fixed body portion,

a door mounted on said fixed body portion for movement between an open position allowing access to said seat and a closed position adjacent said seat, and

coacting latch means on said door and on said fixed body portion for releasably securing said door in its closed position,

(A) a handle of generally L cross-section comprising a main body plate portion and a flange portion along the upper edge of said main body plate portion extending generally normal to said plate portion, said handle being operatively connected to the latch means on said door; and

(B) means mounting said handle on the inside of said door for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis between (1) a latched position in which said main body plate portion lies in a generally vertical plane extending forwardly along, and generally parallel to, the inside surface of said door and said flange portion extends toward said inside door surface, and

(2) an unlatched position in which said main body plate portion lies in a generally vertical plane extending at an angle to said inside surface, whereby to require a lateral movement of said plate member toward an occupant of said seat to open said door and thereby substantially preclude accidental movement of said plate member to its unlatched position in response to inadvertent or accidental rearward movement of the hand of said occupant.

2. In a motor vehicle of the type including a fixed body portion,

a seat supported on said fixed body portion,

a door mounted on said fixed body portion for movement between an open position allowing access to said seat and a closed position adjacentsaid seat, and

coacting latch means on said door and on said fixed body portion for releasably securing said door in its closed position:

(A) an elongated arm rest cushion member secured to the inside of said door in a position extending generally longitudinally of said vehicle and defining at its upper surface an elongated, generally horizontal support surface on the inside of said door at a level to comfortably accommodate and provide support for the forearm of an occupant of said seat;

(B) a handle comprising a flat plate member (1) operatively connected to the latch means on said door and (2) disposed on the inside of said door immediately forwardly of said arm rest cushion member generally at the level of said support surface so as to be conveniently accessible to the hand of said occupant with the forearm of the latter supported on and lying along said support surface; and

(C) means mounting said fiat plate member for pivotal movement on said door about a generally vertical axis between (1) a latched position in which said flat plate member extends forwardly from said arm rest cushion member in a generally vertical plane generally parallel to the inside surface of said door and (2) an unlatched position in which said plate member lies in a vertical plane extending at an angle to said inside surface, whereby to require a lateral movement of said fiat plate member toward said occupant to open said door and thereby substantially preclude accidental movement of said plate member to its door unlatched position in response to inadvertent or accidental rearward movement of the hand of said occupant.

3. In a motor vehicle of the type including a fixed body portion,

a seat supported on said fixed body portion,

a door mounted on said fixed body portion for movement between an open position allowing access to said seat and a closed position adjacent said seat, and

coacting latch means on said door and on said fixed body portion for releasably securing said door in its closed position:

(A) an arm rest cushion member on the inside of said door having a longitudinal side surface extending generally parallel to the inside surface of said door;

(B) a handle comprising a fiat plate member (1) operatively connected to the latch means on said door and (2) disposed on the inside of said door immediately forwardly, and generally at the level of, said arm rest cushion member so as to be conveniently accessible to the hand of said occupant with the forearm of the latter supported on and lying along said arm rest; and

(C) means mounting said plate member for pivotal movement on said door about a generally vertical axis located forwardly of said arm rest cushion member between (1) a latched position in which said plate member extends forwardly from said arm rest cushion member in a generally vertical plane generally parallel to the inside surface of the said door and is entirely confined between said inside surface and the plane of said longitudinal side surface and (2) an unlatched-position in which said flat plate member lies in a vertical plane extending at an angle to said inside surface.

4. In a motor vehicle of the type including a fixed body portion,

a seat supported on said fixed body portion,

a door mounted on said fixed body portion for movement between an open position allowing access to said seat and a closed position adjacent said seat, and

coacting latch means on said door and on said fixed body portion for releasably securing said door in its closed position:

(A) an arm rest cushion member on the inside .of

said door presenting at its upper side a generally horizontal support surface at a level to comfortably accommodate and provide support for the forearm of an occupant of said seat and further including a longitudinal, vertically extending side surface adjoining said support surface;

(B) a handle comprising a fiat plate member (1) operatively connected to the latch means on said door and (2) disposed on the inside of said door immediately forwardly, and generally at the level of, said arm rest cushion member so as to be conveniently accessible to the hand of said occupant with the forearm of the latter supported on and lying along said support surface; and

(C) means mounting said plate member for pivotal movement on said door about a generally vertical axis located forwardly of said arm rest cushion member between (1) a latched position in which said plate member extends forwardly from said arm rest in a generally vertical plane generally parallel to the inside surface of the said door and is entirely confined between said inside surface and the plane of said longitudinal side surface below the plane of said support surface, and (2) an unlatched position in which said plate member lies in a vertical plane extending at an angle to said inside surface.

5. In a motor vehicle of the type including a fixed body portion,

a seat supported on said fixed body portion,

a door mounted on said fixed body portion for movement between an open position allowing access to said seat and a closed position adjacent said seat, and

coacting latch means on said door and on said fixed body portion for releasably securing said door in its closed position:

(A) an arm rest cushion member on the inside of said door presenting at its upper side a generally horizontal support surface at a level to comfortably accommodate and provide support for the forearm of an occupant of said seat and further including a longitudinal side surface adjoining said support surface and extending generally parallel to the inside surface of said door;

(B) a handle comprising a fiat plate member (1) operatively connected to the latch means on said door and (2) disposed on the inside of said door immediately forwardly of, and generally at the level of, said arm rest cushion member so as to be conveniently accessible to the hand of said occupant with the forearm of the latter supported on and lying along said support surface; and

(C) means mounting said plate member for pivvotal movement on said door about a generally vertical axis located forwardly of said arm rest cushion member between (1) a latched position in which said flat plate member extends forwardly from said arm rest in a generally vertical plane generally parallel to the inside surface of the said door and is entirely confined between said inside surface and the plane of said longitudinal side surface below the plane of said support surface, and (2) an unlatched position in which said flat plate member lies in a vertical plane extending at an angle to said inside surface. 6. In a motor vehicle of the type including a fixed body portion, a seat supported on the body portion, a door mounted on the body portion for movement between an open position allowing access to the seat and a closed position adjacent the seat, and coacting latch means on the door and on the fixed body portion for releasably 60 securing the door in its closed position:

(A) an arm rest assembly comprising (1) an elongated, rigid base member secured to the inside of said door in a position extending generally longitudinally of said vehicle and having an opening therein adjacent its forward end, and (2) -a cushion member secured to said base member rearwardly of said opening; and (B) latch release means comprising (1) an elongated latch operating member positioned within said door and operative in response to movement thereof to trip said latch means, (2) a handle member positioned adjacent the for- 7 8 ward end of said base member and mounted for extending from said plate portion toward the inside pivotal movement about a generally vertical surface of said door to further cover said opening axis, and and coact With said plate portion to facilitate grasp- (3) means extending through said opening and ing of said handle.

operatively interconnecting said handle mem- 5 her and said latch operating member so that piv- References Cited otal movement of said handle member about UNITED STATES PATENTS lsjald vertlcal 3X15 mOYes S a1d operatlng 3,264,031 8/1966 Belsky 96 153 er in an unlatchmg direction.

7. A motor vehicle according to claim 6 wherein ATE T (C) said handle member includes a generally flat plate 10 FOREIGN P N S portion normally lying in a vertical plane extending 1,122,748 5/1956 France forwardly along and generally parallel to the in- 1 130"669 10/1956 France side surface of said door in a position overlyin said v Opening to cover the Same 5 LEO FRIAGLIA, P1 zmary Examiner. 8. A motor vehicle according to claim 7 wherein BENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner.

(D) said handle member further includes a flange portion along the upper edge of said fiat plate portion GOODMAN Assistant Examine," 

1. IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A FIXED BODY PORTION, A SEAT SUPPORTED ON SAID FIXED BODY PORTION, A DOOR MOUNTED ON SAID FIXED BODY PORTION FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION ALLOWING ACCESS TO SAID SEAT AND A CLOSED POSITION ADJACENT SAID SEAT, AND COACTING LATCH MEANS AND SAID DOOR AND ON SAID FIXED BODY PORTION FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID DOOR IN ITS CLOSED POSITION, (A) A HANDLE OF GENERALLY L CROSS-SECTION COMPRISING A MAIN BODY PLATE PORTION AND A FLANGE PORTION ALONG THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID MAIN BODY PLATE PORTION EXTENDING GENERALLY NORMAL TO SAID PLATE PORTION, SAID HANDLE BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE LATCH MEANS ON SAID DOOR; AND (B) MEANS MOUNTING SAID HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF SAID DOOR FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A GENERALLY VERTICAL AXIS BETWEEN (1) A LATCHED POSITION IN WHICH SAID MAIN BODY PLATE PORTION LIES IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE EXTENDING FORWARDLY ALONG, AND GENERALLY PARALLEL TO, THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID DOOR AND SAID FLANGE PORTION EXTENDS TOWARD SAID INSIDE DOOR SURFACE, AND (2) AN UNLATCHED POSITION IN WHICH SAID MAIN BODY PLATE PORTION LIES IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE TO SAID INSIDE SURFACE, WHEREBY TO REQUIRE A LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATE MEMBER TOWARD AND OCCUPANT OF SAID SEAT TO OPEN SAID DOOR AND THEREBY SUBSTANTIALLY PRECLUDE ACCIDENTAL MOVEMENTS OF SAID PLATE MEMBER TO ITS UNLATCHED POSITION IN RESPONSE TO INADVERTENT OR ACCIDENTAL REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE HAND OF SAID OCCUPANT. 